It's been five years since Getachew Seyoum lost his son.
The body of 22-year old Michael Atakelt was found in the Maribynong River, west of Melbourne. My Seyoum says within hours of the discovery, police told him that his son had committed suicide.
"Something can be concluded after collecting facts and investigations, but my son's case from the first instance they brought him out from the river it was treated as not suspicious."
He'd been missing for 11 days.
Michael's mother Askalu Tella had approached police numerous times to report her son's disappearance, but didn't understand the process of making a formal missing persons report.
"This young man had no one, and who is going to care if he's gone"
Mr Seyoum says he believes there was a lack of concern on behalf of the police officer she spoke to.
"This young man had no one, and who is going to care if he's gone - this is what the assumption was," he said.
The case caused uproar in the Ethiopian and wider African communities of Melbourne.
"All that contributed to the mistrust with the whole case people are looking are we second grade citizens or are we equal citizens," said Chairman of the community group, the African Think Tank, Dr Berhan Ahmed.
Similar sentiments were expressed at a community meeting following the death of taxi driver Mohamud Mohmud Muketar last month. The victim's father learnt of his son's death five hours after the police investigation began, when he stumbled upon the crime scene.
Dr Ahmed said he believes more attention is given to suspects of African descent, than to victims.
"When we are perceived perpetrators the sky falls but when we are victims nothing happens and that is creating a big question."
It's a perception that police are working to fix.
"I would like to see us more representative of the Victorian community and that's what we need to focus on"
"Understanding people's journey is very important for us and at the same time understanding the relationship that some people from various African countries may have had with law enforcement in their own country," said Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Andrew Crisp.
"We would like to think that everyone here would feel safe around police, trust police but given the journey of some people and their relationships previously we have to be very conscious of that," he said.
Since Michael Atakelt's death, Victoria Police have implemented a new system for reporting missing persons and rolled out diversity training, with a focus on delivering death messages in a culturally sensitive manner.
DC Crisp said they've made progress in bettering the relationship with the state's African communities.
"We've come a long way we've still got a long way to go I would like to see us more representative of the Victorian community and that's what we need to focus on. So any one out there, if you're looking for a good job and a great career please think about Victoria Police."
What some are calling a new era in police community relations.
"There is a real effort to engage rather than to blame, and that is the same on the side of the police. Because I think on both sides there is a recognition that we need to do something," said Victorian Multicultural Commissioner Dr Mimmie Claudine Ngum Chi Watts.
Last month a police review confirmed the original findings of a non-suspicious death in the case of Michael Atakelt.
Getachew Seyoum said he may never have closure when it comes to the loss of his son, but he says his faith in Victoria Police has been restored
"They can learn, they can improve and they can change, so there has to be regular training, regular communication, regular integration."
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